Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

DENVER – Aaron Carson Cheek, age 27, of Golden, was sentenced yesterday to serve 84 months in federal prison for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence by U.S. District Court Judge Christine M. Arguello, Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer and ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston announced.  Cheek was in custody prior to the sentencing hearing, and was remanded following the sentencing hearing.

 

Cheek was first charged by Criminal Complaint on June 6, 2016.  He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on June 23, 2016.  He pled guilty to the federal gun crime on July 27, 2017.  He was sentenced today, Thursday, October 26, 2017. 

 

According to the stipulated facts contained in the defendant’s plea agreement, on May 31, 2016, Cheek entered a Home Depot store located on West Colfax in Golden, Colorado.  He caught the attention of Home Depot employees because of the length of time he was in the store, as well as his unusual behavior.  When an employee tried to make contact with Cheek he brandished a 9mm handgun and stated, “Don’t say anything and we won’t have a problem.”  He exited the store only to be again confronted by other Home Depot employees.  After a brief physical altercation Cheek again pulled his weapon, stating “Do you want to make this real?”  He then fled the scene in a truck, but not before the Home Depot employees were able to get his license plate number. 

 

Golden Police officers responded to the area to look for Cheek’s vehicle.  The Golden Police officers had earlier in the day received a call from Cheek about an alleged assault.  While they looked near that address, the located his vehicle.  An officer blocked the truck in a parking space, ordering the defendant to follow his instructions.  Cheek did not follow the officer’s instruction, which ultimately led to the officer tackling Cheek, taking him into custody.  An inventory of the vehicle after the arrest uncovered a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, two boxes of ammunition, and a suspected destructive device. 

 

On November 4, 2010, the defendant was convicted and sentenced to 180 days imprisonment for possession of a controlled substance, a felony, in the 362nd District Court in Denton County, Texas.  This conviction meant that Cheek was not legally allowed to possess a firearm or ammunition. 

 

"We and the ATF focus our enforcement especially on people like this defendant who are prohibited from having guns yet using them to endanger others. Store security, the Golden Police Department, ATF, and our prosecutor did a fantastic job getting Mr. Cheek where he belongs," said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer.

 

“Offenders like Cheek are why ATF exists,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston. “People who use violence to further their criminal agenda are the most dangerous criminals out there. Working with our local partners, ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office can put these criminals away for a long time.”

 

This case was investigated by the ATF and the Golden Police Department.  The defendant was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason St. Julien.